Concrete-mixer.



PATENT-ED APR. 24, 1906. 0. R. WEAVER. CONCRETE MIXER.

APPLIUATIOH nun NOV.25,1905.

wvantoz PATENTBD APR. 24, 190,65

C. R. WEAVER. CONCRETE MIXER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV.25,1905

2 SHEETS-*SHEBT 2,

' anwmtoz Mono!) 0 o M UNITED STATES C. HAINS. JR, UNITED PATENT OFFICE.

MARY LAND, ASSIGNOR TO PETER STATES ARMY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CONCRETE-MIXER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apri124, 1906., 1

Application filed November 25, 1905. Serial No. 289,000.

To a/Zl whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES R. WEAVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Concrete-Mixers, of which the following is a specification.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to concrete mixing and handling apparatus whereby the constituent elements composing the mixture may be brought into proper relation and the product deposited in the desired location.

It is well known that concrete consists of an intimate mixture of an active cementing substance and particles of inert material, which upon hardening of the cementing substance forms an artificial stone, the active cementing substance consisting usually of hydraulic cement and water, forming a paste, and the inert material consisting of sand combined with broken stone or gravel, or both. To secure the best results and produce concrete of the desired character, it is essential that each particle of the inert material shall be covered with a cement paste, the smaller particles serving to fill the interstices between the larger particles and the cement paste filling the remaining voids. In such class of devices as herein referred to it is also desirable that the mixing apparatus may be so constructed or formed as to enable the material when mixed to be directly deposited in the required position without intermediate transportation between the mixing apparatus and the place of deposit by a separate transporting means.

W'ith these general considerations in view the object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus whereby the required mixing of the inert materials and the active cementing substance may be secured in a simple, efficient, and economical manner, and, if desired, the product can be deposited in place as required for use or taken from the apparatus and transported by suitable means to more remote locations.

Generally stated, the invention consists of a plurality of hoppers or receptacles having bottom openings adapted to 'be placed one upon another or nested and means for connecting the hoppers so that they may be raised successively from their nested position to permit the materials to passfrom one to tional view of an apparatus embodying the features of the present invention, said figure showing the several hoppers or receptacles in nested position one within the other. Fig. 2is a side elevation and part sectional view of the same apparatus with the top hopper 7o raised from its nested position within the other hoppers and showing the material passing from the top hopper to the one next below, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation showing the series of hoppers raised successively from their nested position and the material passing into the bottom hopper.

. Referring to the drawings, which show one form or embodiment of the present invention, A A A A represent a series of hoppers or receptacles of any desired or preferred form or number adapted to be nested to gether, as shown in Fig. 1; but preferably they are of general conical shape, and each has a bottom opening a, through which the materials to be mixed may pass, as hereinafter described.

The hopper or receptacle A, which for identification may be known as the top hop-- per,is preferably provided with an upwardlyextended flange or ring portion a and may be reinforced by circular bands (f, if desired. The top ho )per A is provided with hooks or eyebolts b l), which may be of appropriate character and number to engage the hoisting? 9 5 slin s 7) I), connected to a hoisting link or hoo b of an appropriate derrick-lift, as 6 These parts may -be formed of suitable character to support the weight not only of the top hopper and contained material placed use therein, but of all the hoppers, as will appear.

Attached to the top hopper A at suitable intervals are the eye-plates 12* b to which are secured the means for connecting the several hoppers;- In the present form of the inven- 10 tion these eye-plates l)* b are shown as formed integral with the hooks or eycbolts 11b and are provided with suitable openings through the other as the hoppers are successively 55 oors for the hop- 60 which pass the connecting means 6 b which i may be formed of wire ro es or cables knotted at. their upper ends I)? ,The connecting means or ropes b b pass through suitable guides or eye-plates b If, secured to the hoppers A A A and are provided with stops 6 b so that as the hoppers are moved from their nested position, Fig. 1, to their elevated positions, Fig. 3, each IQ- distance between the stops 1) 12 which may be varied to suit the conditions of use, the espermitting the hoppers to be joined in series practice that This operating device structron it will sential in this respect being that each hopper be separately raised a sufiicient distance from'the one beneath to permit any material in it to pass through its bottom opening into the next hopper.

' Itisevident that the connecting means for and successively raised as described may be variously formed; but it has been found in wire ropes having stops, as shown, are well suited to the conditions of use, as by their pliability they readily permit the hoppers to be nested together, as in Fig. 1, without danger of-breakage or disturbance of the nested relation.

Each of the hoppers of the series is provided with a bottom closure or door C, hung upon arms 0, pivoted at c to suitable lugs 0 secured to the respective hoppers at opposite sides thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 8, so that such doors may be swung from their closing position to permit material to pass from one hopper to another beneath it.

In order that the doors C of the hoppers A, A, and A may be automatically operated as the said hoppers are successively raised from their nested position, Fig. 1, each of said doors of said hoppers is connected by an operating device 0 to a hopper beneath it.

ma ble connection secured ait c to one edge of the door or closureC and passed through suit able guide-eyes c on the hopper, to which the door is hinged'or pivoted, the end of saidflexible connection being secured at a suitable point 0 to a hopper beneath. From this co n be obvious that as one of said hoppers is raised from its nested position in ,ltheone beneath the operating device C will gradually move the door or closurefrom the bottom opening and permit the material in,

the hopper to pass through. The time of thus opening the doors C may be varied, of course, to suit conditions of use by simply altering the length of the flexible connection 0.

It is to be here noted that the bottom. cloexposed surface.

consist of a fiexi sure or door of the bottom hopper A is not provided with an automaticoperating device, as'are the other hoppers,which for identification may be generally termed the upper hoppers. This is to enable the material which has been passed into the bottom hopper A to be retained in said hopper until wanted, at which time the entireseries of hoppers may be raised and moved or swung by the usual derrick to enable the mixture to .be deposited in place. To open the door C of the bottom hopper A a handle 0 Fig 3, is provided. Y v V I In order that the series of hoppers when in nested position may be properly supported without injury to the doorof thebottom hopper, suitable supports D D are provided, which may be of any desired character, but in the present illustration are shown as legs secured by rivets or bolts to the exterior wall of thebottom hopper.

From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that if the several hoppers be nested together, as in Fig. 1, and sustained upon their, supports the materials to form the concrete or other mixture may be readily shoveled or dumped into the top hopper A. As apreferred manner of arranging the materials to form concrete the cement f, Fig. 1, is first placed in the top hopper. Then a layer of sand g of appropriate quantity is placed upon the cement, and upon this'is placed thecracked stone or gravel h, water being then sprayed or dashed in suitable amount over theentire Such particular arrangement of materials, however, while desirable is not essential in all cases. I

' The top hopper A being now charged ,with the desired materials, the, same is raised by means of the hoisting-slings b b, and as it rises from the hopper A the door C is automatically opened by means of the operating device C, thus permitting the material to pass from the top hopper into hopper A. As the top hopper continues to rise the stops 6 b on the connecting means b b engage the eye-plates b b on hopper A, whereupon said.

successive raising of the several hoppers -from their nested position by their connecting means the'materials which are to form the mixture pass successively from one hopper to the other, becoming thoroughly mixed in the operation. The material is now. in the bottom hopper, and the entire series of hoppers may now be moved or .swung by a suitdirectly in place.

While it has been found thata device constructedas above described Will produce a thorough mixture of the materials, it is desirable at times to provide for a preliminary mixing thereof prior to the passage of the materialsfrom one hopperto another, and

for this purpose the top hopper is provided with a preliminary mixing device This de vice consists of an inclined body portion K, preferably in the form of a core and having an eyebolt k at its apex, to which is secured one end of a lifter 7c, the other end thereof being joined to the hoisting hook or link I) and of a len th such that when the hoisting hook or. link 5 is raised to lift the hoppers successiv'ely from'their nested position it will first raise the mixing device from its normal position at the bottom of the top hopper and dragging it through the materials indicated in Fig. 1 will cause a preliminary mixing thereof. 1

When the hoppers are in nested position,

Fig. 1, the preliminary mixing device takes is provided with guides or wings k k of any desired number, which striking upon the inside surface of the upper hopper as the mixing device is lowered therein insures the proper position of the device. These guides or wings lc likewise assist in the preliminary mixing of the materials as it is raised through the same prior to lifting the top hopper.

Itis evident, of course, that the preliminary mixing device may be variously formed and constructed, the essentials in this respect being that it imparts to the materials in the top hopper a preliminary mixing prior to the discharge of such materials from the top hopper.

Reference has already been made to the action of the device as the hoppers are-successively raised by their connecting means, and it now remains to direct attention to the nesting operation. Assume that the hoppers are in )osition indicated in Fig. 3 and the materia discharged from the bottom hopper. The hoppers are then successively lowered, hopper A approaching its nested position in hopper A. The door 01 hopper A first closes automatically as the operating device C slat-hens, and then hopper A seats itself in hopper A, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. Hopper A then approaches hopper A its door C closing as the operating device 0 slackcns, and it finds a nested position, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2, such operation being carried on throughout the series of hoppers. As the top hopper is thus similarly seated in hopper A the preliminary mixing device is loweredby its lifter 7c until the guides or wings it rest upon the inside walls of the top hopper and correctly position the said dev ce. The hoppers are now in nested positron, as indicated in Fig. 1, and ready for anothercharge or materials and operation, as before. c

It is evident that changes may be made in the details of connecting means for successively raising the hoppers and that other character of door-operating means may be found desirable; also, that the number of hoppers in the series may be varied and other changes made within the scope of the present invention. f

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a concrete mixing and handling apparatus, the combination of a plurality of hoppers having bottom openings and adapted to be nested one within the other, and means for connecting said hop ers in series to permit them to be successive y raised from their nested position and cause the material to pass successively from one hopper to the other as they are raised.

2. In a concrete mixing and handling apparatus, the combination of a plurality of hoppers having bottom openings and adapted to be nested one within the other, a.pre liminary mixing device associated with one of said hoppers, and means for connecting said hoppers in series to permit them to be successively raised from'their nested position and cause the material to pass successively from one hopper to the other as they are raised.

3. In a concrete mixing and handling apparatus, the combination of a'plurality of hoppers having bottonropenings and adapted to be nested within each other, a preliminary mixing device disposed within the top. hopper, and means connecting said hoppers in series to permit them'to be raisedsuccessively from their nestedposition and'cause the material to pass successively from one to raised.

4. In. a concrete mixing and handling apparatus, the combination of a plurality'of hoppers having bottom openings and ada ted to be nested within each other, doors 'or closing said openings, means connecting said hoppers in series to permit them to be successively raised from their nested position, and devices associated with said hoppers for automatically opening the doors of the upper hoppers as they are successively raised from said nested position.

5. In a concrete mixing and handling apparatus, the combination of a plurality of hoppers havin bottom openin s and adapted to be neste within each other, doors or closing said openings, means for successively raising the hoppers from their nested position, and devices associated with said hoppers for opening the doors to permit the maparatus, the combination of a plurality of hoppers having bottom openings and adapted to be nested within each other, doors for closing said openings, a preliminary mixing device disposed in the top hopper of the series, means for successively raising the hoppers from their nested position, and devices for opening the doors to permit the material to pass from one hopper to the other.

7. Ina device of thecharacter described, the combination of a plurality. of hoppers having bottom openings and adapted to be nested Within each other, a preliminary mixing device disposed in the top hopper, means for connecting said hoppers in series to permit them to be successively raised from their nested position, and means forraising the preliminary mixing device in the top hopper.

8. The combination of a hopper, a prelinn nary mixing device disposed Within said hopper, and having guides for centering said device in said hopper and means for raising the preliminary mixing device.

9. The combination of a hopper, having a bottom opening, a door for closing said opening, means for opening said door, a preliminary mixing device disposed within said hopper, and having guides for centering said device in said hopper and means for raising the preliminary mixing device.

10. A device of the comprising a plurality of hoppers having bottom openings, doors for closing said openings, means for connecting said hoppers in series to permit them to be successively raised, and automatic devices connected to the doors of the upper hoppers for successively opening the doors of the upper hoppers as they are raised.

11. In a device of the character described,

- the combination of a plurality of hoppers having bottom openings and adapted to he nested in each other, hoisting-slings for lifting the top hopper, wire ropes connecting the other hoppers of the series with the top hopcharacter described per and stops arranged on said ropes for raisingthe hoppers successively, said-stops being disposed a distance a art to permit anup er hopper to be raised rom the one beneat it before the'latter is raised. s

12. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of hoppers having bottom openings and ada ted to-be nested in each other, doors for c osing said bottom openings, a flexible connection between the doors of each of the upper hoppers and the next lower hopper, guides through whichsaid connections pass, and'TI'i'Cns for successively raising the hoppers from their nested position to cause the doors of the upper hoppers to be successively opened and permit material to pass through the bottomv openings of theupper hoppers.

13. In a device of the character described, the combination of aplurality of hoppers having bottom openings and adapted to be nested in each other, means for flexibly connectin'g said hoppers in series to permit them to be successively raised from their nested position and cause material to pass succes sively from one hopper to the other as they are raised, and supports for the bottonr hopper to sustain the nested hop ers in position to receive a charge of materia s to be mixed.

14. In a device of the character described, the combination of a plurality of hoppers having bottom openings and adapted to be nested in each other, doors for'closing said bottom openings, automatically operating devices for opening said doors, means for flexibly connecting said hoppers in series to permit them to be successively raised from their nested position and cause material to pass successively from one. hopper to the other as they are raised and supports for the bottom hopper to sustain the nested hoppers in position to receive a charge of materials 'to be mixed. Y

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

- CHARLES R. WEAVER.

\Vitnesses A. R. HL'XTER, ARCHIBALD YOUNG. 

